Monday, October 16, 2023 — The United Nations has accused Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of obstructing vital humanitarian aid to the famine-threatened Darfur region. The RSF, engaged in a brutal conflict with Sudan’s regular army since April, holds control over much of Darfur, a western region roughly the size of France.
According to Clementine Nkweta-Salami, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, the RSF has imposed severe restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles that are hampering relief efforts. “The persistent restrictions and bureaucratic hurdles are preventing life-saving assistance from reaching those in desperate need,” she stated. “The world is watching, and it is unacceptable that the humanitarian community in Sudan is unable to deliver essential aid.”
Since May, the RSF has besieged El-Fasher in North Darfur and launched attacks on nearby displacement camps, exacerbating the region’s humanitarian crisis. Famine has already been declared in five areas of North Darfur and is projected to spread to five more by May next year, according to the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
Nearly seven million people in Darfur are facing crisis levels of hunger, IPC figures reveal. Nationwide, almost 25 million people are grappling with severe food insecurity, making it one of the world’s largest hunger crises.
The UN has urgently called for the removal of unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and interference, including demands for logistical support or compulsory engagement with selected vendors. Humanitarian workers report ongoing obstruction from both sides of the conflict, including looting of aid supplies and threats against relief staff.
The conflict in Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced around 12 million people. As the crisis deepens, the international community is urging all parties to facilitate immediate and unimpeded access to humanitarian assistance for those in need.
